Lasik/PRK Experiences

I asked about eye surgery incessantly until my optometrist, a low vision specialist at the forefront of most innovations in treating low visions, finally said that the surgery techniques and tools were finally a decent option for me. I was so incredibly near sighted that they promised me I would continue to need glasses after the surgery. I signed up anyway since my very poor vision made me a great candidate to die in a fire, not be able to find anything quickly in an emergency, dead in the water if a contact came out skiing or climbing. I was hoping to just be able to see the alarm clock from bed or find my way out of a hotel in an emergency. I had -19.25 in one eye and -18.50 in the other eye.

My optometrist personally vetted the surgeon who did the procedure. He actually went down to the surgery with me. OK, I was one of his first patients and had been his patient for 30 years, subject of several studies on the very first gas permeable lenses and assorted other advances in contact lenses. He arrested the rapid deterioration of my vision which threatened to blind me completely in my early teens. Based on my optometrist's recommendation and research, I had full confidence that this surgeon was qualified.

The only good news about my eyes was that the corneas were abnormally thick. Even though they promised about 15 diopters of correction, the surgeon thought there might be room to go for a little more. I told him in no uncertain terms to go for it.

For the first time in my life I can function wihtout any vision correction. I needed one contact to help me read, and I needed nothing else for 13 years. Previously I was uncorrectable to 20/20. After surgery, I was slightly farsighted. It was a whole new game. I was deliriously happy that I did this. Yes, threading a needle was not as easy as it used to be, but I could read street signs and recognize faces from across the room. Life is good.

14 years later, I use a mild correction to see well driving at night. I also use reading glasses. I am no longer afraid that if I lose a lense skiing, swimming, or climbing that I will become incapacitated. At 56 years old, the old lense doesn't adjust as well between near and far, day and night. But that is entirely normal. At least I can still see the alarm clock from my bed, climb without any vision correction, etc. I have been to Denali, and I have take up scuba. It all works.

Talk to your optometrist. Trust who that person trusts.